Archive of Our Own

Coming back to Kalos after months of travel was like the dawn of a new season, one chapter closed and another now opened.

It was very nostalgic. Freeing. And yet, the responsibilities remained. Alexa side-eyed Ash who was bouncing in his seat, excitement practically oozing out of his pores. It was unfortunate enough that he couldn’t have the Gym Battle against her sister (who, for whatever reason, decided to squeeze the last few weeks of Seasonal status scaring battlers at the Chateau and following migrations patterns of Bug-Types), but there was probably a nugget of wisdom in it. A hyperactive challenger was one that was prone to overlooking small mistakes, after all. 

And still, it was a promise she had made without fact-checking beforehand, so the guilt wouldn’t abate completely. Leaning on her palm as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, she mumbled, “Once again, I’m sorry about the Gym.”

The boy from Kanto sent her a lopsided grin as he waved a hand out. “Nah, it’s okay. I mean, I’m totally bummed, but I can wait. It’s not like it’s going to last forever, right?” It seemed like the idea had just occurred to him then, as his voice dipped down and his eyes widened. “Oh no, what if your sister never comes back? And then there’s only seven Gyms open? How will I go to the League then?”

“I… don’t think that’s how it works, Ash.” The bus jumped over a bump in the road, and both of them were jostled in their places. Helioptile stopped playing with Pikachu over their laps and whined fearfully, eyes glistening with unshed tears. She laid a manicured hand over his head, patting his head and the sides of his tassels gently. “And besides, I know for a fact that she’s coming back. In the meantime, I say you use that energy to make a strategy. After all, she’s a Gym Leader for a reason.”

“Yeah, yeah.” The way Ash rolled his eyes would’ve been disrespectful, if it wasn’t for the fact that perhaps Viola had that coming. For, you know, not being at the Gym when Alexa had expected her to. Ash drummed his fingers on the armrests, his eyes bouncing around the place and inevitably catching onto the view outside.

And what a view it was. The Kalosian countryside was lush with greenery, Pokémon making their way through, the sun as bright as it’s ever been. Unovan weather always seemed to fluctuate, the cycles allegedly determined by the whims of the Forces of Nature— a completely different set of weather-changing Pokémon to Hoenn’s Ancient Legendaries or the fickle nature of Kanto’s Legendary Birds. On the other hand, Kalos seemed to experience only steadiness and balance, flow and effect. Hot days shadow cool ones; with fire and floods comes growth, with growth follows disaster, and in any case people and Pokémon work together to thrive in the set of conditions they’ve been given.

Yes, coming back to Kalos felt right, especially after such extended visits to faraway regions. 

“You know,” Ash spoke up, voice sly, “I remember that you ‘knew for a fact’ that the Gym was open, so maybe I should be blaming you for all this.”

Ooh. Low blow, indeed (and definitely disrespectful). Alexa flicked at his right hand, earning a yelp as she pointedly said, “You have no one to blame but your inexplicably high expectations. You do realise that everyone is entitled to a break, right?”

“Right,” Ash groused, pulling his hand and body away from her. The reporter just waited, knowing that in time Ash would bounce back or forget and go back to his usual chipper self in no time flat.

It was a bit… strange to experience, the first time it occurred. Between treasure hunts and old legends and the wide variety of Pokémon they’ve encountered on their shared cruise, Alexa has always seen Ash as the most carefree member of his friend group, as free and untethered as any Flying-Type. Sure, Cilan could get over-enthusiastic over any one thing and even Iris would find herself in bouts of unrestrained joy (usually when faced with Dragon-Types), but it was Ash who seemed eternally unbothered by anything, equally interested by everything. The only time he showed true dedication was when he heard about Kalos and the confirmation of a Gym circuit there, causing him to shed that unbothered layer like a spare coat, and it took a few hours of the plane trip to slowly wean him off his incessant questioning and strategizing. 

Well, for the most part, anyways. 

But Alexa didn’t worry. After all, that’s the look of a Gym Challenger! And an experienced one at that, if his practice sessions meant anything. His usual attitude was just how kids were.

“Is there good food there? In Lumiose City?”

Alexa’s head turned so quickly at those words, aleady feeling eyes poke into their area even though they were near the back. It was a touchy subject that lived in the lifeblood of any Lumiosian, even by proxy, and to ask it with no fear? With impudence, in fact? It was all she could do to not grip his shoulders and shake the sense into him as it was. “Ash, I promise you that the cuisine there will blow your mind.”

He quickly straightened up, eyes sparkling— a trait even Pikachu shared. “Really?”

“…That is, if you can afford it.”

“Boo.” He slumped back down in his seat, Pikachu turning his attention back to coaxing Helioptile to switch laps.

She let herself harbour a small smile, tapping a finger against her chin. “But, I can be persuaded to give you one sweet treat. If I’m also feeling like it.” She gave a delicate shrug. “Depends on my appetite.”

Ash’s gaze burrowed its way into the side of her face. “You’re getting me food. For free. Good food.” It was unclear if it was an order or a strangely worded question with questionable tone.

Still, Alexa let him have it. That’s just how Ash was, and that’s how she’ll roll with it. “We’ll have to get to Lumiose first. And I’ve got some business to attend to anyways, so I’m not promising anything.” She smirked at him, drawling, “Since I’m so unreliable.”

“You’re not unreliable!” Ash quickly said, almost jumping out of his seat as he leaned towards her. “You’re super reliable! There is no unreliable bone in your body, that’s how reliable you are!”

“Okay, that’s enough now.” She put a hand out to stop him, grin widening on her face. Facing forward, she noted how close they were to the city. “Let’s just get there and see what happens, okay?”

Ash nodded, slumping back down and looking out the window again. Even still, there was that wonder and excitement pouring out of him, as potent as it’s always been.

In a few minutes, they would be entering through the gates of Lumiose. The heart of Kalos. The heart of her job as well.

Alexa wondered what had changed since her last visit, and what had stayed the same.

>> ↯ <<

Walking out of Lumiose Press, Alexa found herself feeling all the more lighter. Her entries were in the process of being published, she had recently indulged in many different variations of choux pasteries, and was currently enjoying the day now sprawled in front of her. There was no rush so far, so she was practically free to do whatever she wanted. 

So what if she found herself wandering through the streets of Lumiose? It’s been a while— a long, long while, and quite frankly, she’s missed it. Sure, nature was calming, and there was that charm to small settlements, to worlds far beyond this metropolis in the region of her birth, but it was just as much of a fact that this city was becoming a second home of sorts. She let out Gogoat as soon as she was able to, letting the Grass Type stretch out his legs on home soil.

The thing about Lumiose was that it was always bustling with activity. Cabs moving by, Pokémon crossing around, humans moving from one establishment to the next. Gogoat let out an annoyed whinny as he pulled up a hoof, a tangle of Rattata scurrying by, and Alexa petted his horns as they sidestepped the Persian that followed suit. “Hey, it’s okay. Just focus on the walk.”

Gogoat did not look impressed, but he continued the same meandering pace. Soon enough they were at one of the gates exiting the city, and the explosion of greenery was a vivid contrast to the polished blocks of gray and white from before.

Helioptile hopped off her pack and took off on his own four feet, checking out the foliage and investigating anything that moved. At some points he would scurry back when something moved or made a sound that he wouldn’t agree with, hanging by Alexa’s side for a few moments before curiosity overtook him and he went back out on the hunt once more. It was adorable really, and more importantly, it was the exercise he sorely needed, so the journalist let him free.

It was a pity she couldn’t release Noivern now. The skies were open enough for some wing-stretching, but his attitude would probably make him more receptive to terrorising the local Fletchling population instead (or stray Trainers, which would surely damage her reputation and the Trainers themselves). He was always so full of energy that took ages to dispel, but when it comes down to it, he was her fiercest protector— using that very same energy to protect them all from harm when needed.

But there’s no harm, nor problems, here. Just this road.

The walk to the next city wasn’t too long. It gave Alexa a lot of time to breathe, to think, to let all those experiences seep out into the atmosphere and integrate with the natural world all around her. It was its own cycle in a way— no matter how far she went, in the end, her boots would always click down this same worn path. Back and forth. Breathing in and out as time passed by, as trees grew around, as she grew herself.

How long has it been since her last visit? Scouting Unova was no easy feat, and with the chaos that had erupted with the rise of the Dragons of Truth and Ideals, she barely had any time to sleep, let alone think. Decolores was supposed to be a place to pass on by, but the more time she spent there, the more stories she found. And while Kanto was brief, it was full of vitality and character, a beautiful place full of their own layered history.

It’s been a worthwhile journey she’s been through, and while she’s ready for the next one, it would be good to stop by and have a little rest. Just for a moment. For everyone’s sake.

She looked at the last Pokéball and clicked it open, letting the large form of her third Pokémon cover the sun. Not even pausing for a moment, she called out, “Enjoy it while it lasts!”, her feet bringing them closer to her hometown, to her origin point, to where it all started. Unable to wiat. Unable to stand still and hold the moment. After all, what use was it examining what she already knew?

(She didn’t catch the narrowed gaze. Why should she, when all she spoke was truth?)

Noivern glided up ahead and Gogoat trotted onwards and Helioptile decided to snuggle himself atop the waist pack, the collective sounds forming a familiar melody. And Alexa? 

Kept moving forward. The only way to go.

Alexa was stuck at the door for an embarrassingly long amount of time as she rummaged around for her keys.

Look, it wasn’t like she was going to use them that often! And she hadn’t expected them to be so hard to find either… Grumbling as she finally withdrew them from the right pocket, she opened the door to let Gogoat go in before her. On the account of him being very helpful as always, and not because of his lack of opposable thumbs.

And maybe because it’s been a while since she was back.

It took a while for her eyes to acclimatise to the inside of the building, the familiarity a strange feeling inside of her. Her gait was slowed, measured— trying to pinpoint the right place to put her own bag down while adapting to the room. Those chairs were new, right? She didn’t remember them looking so rounded. And the photos were different from how they were last time.

With a pointed whinny, Alexa rolled her eyes and placed the bag on the counter, ignoring the dishes piling up in the sink nearby. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” Moving over to where Gogoat stood, she unclasped the bags over his back before nudging her trusty steed. “Now you can enjoy your freedom.” A lively clicking sound answered her as the Pokémon finally crossed into the yard, his hooves reaching greater height with the weight taken off him.

It got Alexa leaning over the doorframe, gaze lingering on the shimmering grassy pelt unobstructed and free to flourish. Helioptile immediately had taken to curling up on the couch, tired beyond belief, and she hadn’t gotten around to letting Noivern out after his predicted terriorising-the-local-Fletchling-and-other-Pokémon activity, but watching as her most serious partner gallivanted around, neighing happily, made her… feel something.

Maybe it was just tiredness. The panniers were big enough to act as door stops, and there was a lot of work that they had done. Together. As a team. So some frivolity was fine every once in a while.

There was still a lot to do, though, so Alexa couldn’t linger for too long. She went back inside to take out all her old clothing, putting them on the washing machine and switching it on. Next came her equipment— hardy pieces that have braved strange lands and had so much dust sneaking into every cranny. She had to search for a clean wipe to go through the surface of the headgear before disconnecting the camera, letting them rest and providing easier access to the tricker spots.

Gentle yet repetitive. They held a lot of value to her, and were perhaps the one thing she hasn’t needed to replace as of yet. How long has it been since—

Knock! Knock knock! Knock-knock-knock!

Alexa rolled her eyes as she softly placed the camera down on the sofa where she laid, ensuring that it was nowhere near the edge before walking up to the door. This wasn’t a small city by any means, but it was close enough that she hadn’t had much to worry about. Whoever was at the door did need to calm down a little, but it was probably important if they were knocking at the door of the—

Click.

“What the— Damn it!” She wiped at her eyes as they struggled to adjust to the bright camera flash, which was very unnecessary and totally harmful. “Seriously?!”

A slick laugh answered her. “C’mon, it wasn’t that bad.” Alexa, caught in a fit of annoyance, stuck out a foot to trip up the person, but all she succeeded in was almost falling down herself, her legs overcorrecting as she quickly had to right herself into a standing position once more. “I’m sure you’ve got that concussion all on your own,” the voice continued, as slippery as ever.

Blinking blearily, she followed the sound of that voice, holding a hand out to cover her eyes from the bliding light. “You’re so childish, you know that, right?”

“Not as childish as you are. You’re like, what, fifty? That midlife crisis must be hitting hard for you to be crawling back here.”

“You…” As her vision adjusted, she caught sight of the smirk in front of her. The loose blouse and cargo pants, the hand held over her hip, dark green eyes lidded with satisfaction.

Alexa rubbed her eyes one last time before grousing out, “Ah. As I expected. It’s the humble Gym Leader of this fair city insulting her older sister. How touching and completely typical.”

The younger sister just smiled wider as she waved a dismissive hand, the camera hanging over her neck swaying slightly with the movement. “Anything for you, old lady,” Viola said, that voice sounding just like home.

The house was bustling with activity as soon as her sister joined the scene.

It was sudden, it was spontaneous, but most of all it was needed. The siblings were reclining over the couches as they talked about their experience, the separation almost never existed as they quickly fell into their old routine in synchronicity. Some long awaited catch-up, frantically one-upping each other's photography skills, laughing about awkward moments… It was nostalgia at its finest.

It was only a matter of time before the usual questions would pop up, as sure as clockwork. “So, good trip?”

“As good as it gets.” And the usual answer to follow. A small weight settled over Alexa’s lap and her shoulders relaxed even more, if that was even possible. There was quiet chirping to let her know the culprit was enjoying his little sneak-in.

Viola snorted at her reply. “Can’t be perfect, can it?”

“Don’t tell me, yours was stunning and amazing and I’m just holding myself back on the adrenaline rush of beating up opponents on the road.”

“What, no, I’ll never say that.” Alexa sighed through her nose, hearing the facetious tone. She peeled her eyes open and came face to face with her sister’s smirk, self-assured and full of residual joy.

When was the last time she saw a face like that?

“You’re not taking the bathroom, right?” 

The older sister blinked, watching Viola as she stood up next to her and shucked off the camera, holding it in her hands. At her confused look the latter nudged her head back. “I literally ran out of a full bottle of deodorant on the last day, so don’t give me that look.”

Instinctively, Alexa’s nose wrinkled as she turned her head to the side. “Take as long as you need.” And underneath her breath, “Gross.”

The door swung open to let out an, “I heard that!”, before slamming shut once more.

Soon, the sound of water falling filled the silence. Alexa was still lying on the sofa, head lolled back, the ceiling spanning her entire view.

It’s weird to think about, but she hasn’t been home as much as she could’ve been. Being on the job meant dropping everything for a new scoop, travelling to faraway regions, dedicating months on the road. Familiar voices were usually filtered by the phone, so hearing her sister without that extra layer was… nice.

Not so nice when she nearly flashed her coming out of the bathroom, but that’s just how siblings are.

Helioptile’s stomach grumbled, the little lizard peering down at himself in bemusement.

Alexa forced herself up to make some much needed food, remembering how much of hers was given away as a parting gift back in Lumiose. The hardest part was finding where everything was stored, especially with two voices catching on to her activities and letting their thoughts known on the matter. 

“Heli? Ti-ti-tirrrr!”

“You better be making enough for me, Lexi!”

Kibble was easy enough to procure— the bowl, however, was either lost or sold (okay, probably not sold, per say, but unfindable), so Alexa made do with the one she had in her travelling kit. Glancing at the kitchen, she sighed. It’s been… a while since she cooked. Not her best trait. Only one person liked whatever she made, and she knew that person had a skewed palette. And a loud mouth. And had previously flashed her in two different ways on the same day.

“Is that what I think it is…?”

It’s been a while since she had to do it, but once she got her hands on the right pan soon enough she got to making some simple Kalosian toast. A worthy reunion lunch. Viola walked out in her once more dressed glory as the smell of cooking permeated the air, and her mouth suitably watered with the promise of good food. Because of course she would. 

After all this time, too.

A few slices, some dishes left to pile up irresponsibly, and they were back on the couch with their stomachs filling up.

“So, uh, that Kanto boy.” The honourable Gym Leader spoke through her latest mouthful, sputtering crumbs with every syllable. “Should I be expecting him soon?”

Alexa leaned away from the spray as she finished her own bite, not too bothered about the uncouth display. “Why’d you ask?”

A shrug answered her. “You don’t call about my work, especially on behalf of someone else. This guy must’ve had a big impact on you.”

Ash? Having an impact on her? “He’s definitely experienced,” she decided to say. “He’s trained a lot of Pokémon before, although don’t be surprised if he has a smaller team.” Apparently that was a thing he did, using the Pokémon of the region he was challenging (alongside Pikachu). While it was odd, it wasn’t the strangest thing about him.

“Noted, but not exactly what I asked.” Her sister waved the fork at her tauntingly. “Unless experience is what interests you.”

Alexa groaned. “Not everything has to be complicated,” she riposted, tone cool.

“With you, it definitely does.” Viola chewed on another forkful before letting the utensil bang on the plate. Placing said plate on the table, she adjusted her seating to face the space between her and the table. Her gaze was searching, and her words were held behind her tongue before she finally released it with a sigh. “Will you be watching, at least?”

Voice slightly hopeful. Voice different, not aligning with the image of the cocksure Gym Leader that represents the city, the region, Bug-Types and their ever-changing nature. A voice like home, tilting towards…

Alexa shook her head. There doesn’t have to be a story with everything. Work was work, and here was here. And now, she still feels hungry. “I can manage that,” she promised, nailing some pieces in one clean shot. 

As she put them in her mouth she saw her sister's eyes, the tongs briefly outlining the brightness and energy behind them. “Then I hope you know I’ll be giving it my all.”

(There was only one thing to say to that.)

Swallowing her last mouthful, Alexa found herself murmuring, deeply, truly, what she knew and what she hoped as well.

(Only one right path, right?)

“I expect nothing less.”

Life in Santalune was as long as it ever was.

Alexa took this as time to wind down before the next big assignment. Her work liked to throw her to the farthest reaches of the globe, and so she never really had time to breathe. Not like this. Not in a long while.

So… she got to walking. Getting used to the twisting roads and cobblestone paths. Look up at the sky. Think about the moment, the now, but also…

It was hard to enjoy herself with the looming prospect of leaving above her head. Even her Pokémon were a reminder of what would happen, what can happen, what has happened. Even though they were Kalos-bred through and through, it wasn’t like she had gotten them here. Not in this city, for the most part not even on this side of the region! 

And that was fine. That was normal. But, Alexa found herself musing as she passed by some new saplings taking root in some new corner garden erected, it was a reminder nonetheless. She constantly found herself clipping through corners, trying to find where old storefronts were (renovated, renamed, removed and replaced). It was infuriating to find out that the homely bookstore that she spent a good chunk of her childhood on was gone. Just vanished. No longer there. It took her several hours to find out that the owner had given it up to support his family, keeping all of the books in the garage.

She ended up eventually taking up the offer to take some of them off his hands, feeling like it would be wrong to just leave him in the lurch after all the time that has gone by. Even so, the old man flashed her a grin as he said, “I’m just glad they’re in some good hands now, eh?” and it made Alexa feel… old. Or wrong. Or in an alternate universe.

It turned out that in all the years she had moved across the globe Santalune City had changed in minute ways, building up in intensity until all she could see were ghosts. And it made Alexa feel like she’s lost some autonomy along the way, lost her say and the right to say anything in opposition to this change. Technology swept over the region, and she knew what that looked like, but seeing it here? Every billboard now flashing and glowing, screens and cameras everywhere, people calling from phones and using devices.

…It was fine. That’s progress. She knew what progress looked like.

And yet…

She was sitting on the sofa flipping through pages much more smaller than she was used to, reading through words that she would’ve been excited to read, once. World records speaking of crazy feats that others across the world have accomplished. A faint memory of childhood, of wanting to interview people herself about what they did and what they liked, flashed in her head. She groaned, shaking it away. Life wasn’t that easy. Not everything went your way.

Even now, with her dream job, it still wasn’t perfect. Deadlines and word counts and being familiar with unfamilirity, with difference, with being different. Not knowing and having to work from there. Sore wrists and legs and headaches, adjustments and no wifi, being utterly lost at times. Being sent out again. Rinse and repeat. Alexa wasn’t complaining, but if she had to, there was a laundry list of problems she had with her current work style. Even if she wasn’t exactly working in Kalos, they still expected her to work similar hours every day and report back her progress, and it’s been a pain in the neck lately.

Closing the book, Alexa rolled her actual neck and felt the click, working on her knuckles next. A force of habit. She didn’t need to do it, but it felt good to go through the motions. She stood up, shaking out her arms before grabbing a drink, feeling weightless with the yoke of purpose slipped off somewhere on the road to Santalune.

Soon, she’ll have to go back. She was running out of things to do here, and staying back did not benefit anyone but herself.

(But what else can define her? The ends were worth the means, after all.)

Her eyes caught onto a booklet on her way to use her laptop from her bedroom, poking out from under the bed. Guess Viola must’ve missed a spot when frantically clearing her stuff out after their mutual return. Alexa bent down to pick it up before finding a picture slip out, one unfamiliar to her.

…Viola wouldn’t mind, right? 

(But maybe it was worthwhile to be selfish, just this once, just for a few days.)

It took four days for Ash to move from Lumiose to Santalune, eyes eagerly looking for the Gym.

It took four minutes for the battle to clear up, his hands cradling the Pokémon he had sent out.

The results were… unexpected. Sure, this was a Gym Battle— this was a Gym Leader, carving out the path to the League, which was no small feat. This was a clash against someone who knew the Type inside and out, every strength and trick and weakness. This was some kid who she’d never seen in a serious battle. This was a Trainer with at least 25 different Pokémon over five regions. This was—

She breathed out, just now feeling the strain in her chest. Getting too worked up didn’t help anything, now did it? Alexa looked around to see the Gym Trainers cleaning up the field for the next challenger, all signs of struggle disappearing with careful movements. Melting the ice. Untangling the webs. Quick, efficient work.

Alexa didn’t remember this. At the start, back then, the Gym was a mess all over; barely a reputable building. There was some work done but not enough, not nearly as good as it could’ve been. No matter what happened one could always count on the leaves scattered everywhere, the holes in the ceiling dappling light, the sound of water dripping from some undisclosed corner. The Gym used to be held together by tape and competitiveness, nothing more. It didn’t need more, the Gym Leader argued. It was a natural lived-in look, with weather being able to play a part in battles itself, the dripping sound keeping the beat.

Now?

“We’ve got some time to spend,” the Gym Leader said, catching Alexa’s gaze as she looked up from the battlefield. A smirk was on her face, her chest still heaving with adrenaline, fire in her gaze. “You’ve barely been around here, and I intend to make sure that you check out every angle of this place. Once we’re ready with the field, of course.”

It was almost impossible to resist that sheer belief. Alexa gave a short nod before forcing herself to walk down from the lonely platform, joining the people down below, mind still spinning. There was a creaking sound and her gaze snapped up to a girl opening one of the heavyset doors on the opposite side of the general entrance, her face starting to become pink. “Uh, a little help?”

Viola glanced over there before sighing, sitting on a platform and pulling it up through some string by the windows to check for cracks. All of a sudden so dutiful, so dedicated, so responsible. “Third time this week, ey, Lottie?” Lottie pouted as the Gym Leader then focused her gaze on her sister, sharp and narrowed.

A gaze that was very much unneeded. “What?”

A jerk of the head. “Go help.”

What was that supposed to mean? “I’m not a part of the Gym, you know.”

“But you’re here and you’re free and it would mean so much to me.” Viola fluttered her eyes as she twirled in the air, graceful as a feather. “Plus I can’t get down now. Not if we want to keep the schedule.”

“It’s okay,” Lottie muttered as she continued to heave at the door. It gave way, but only a few centimetres. 

An awkward silence, simmering. Much too hard to refute the higher power in their natural habitat. The older sister rolled her eyes before joining the Trainer, helping out, feeling her own face burn (but from what, she wouldn’t investigate). It took some elbow grease and way too much effort to be worth it, but soon enough it gave way. 

Despite herself, Alexa peered in as soon as she could, catching sight of what was behind it.

The first thing that caught her attention was the colour. She had expected to see something drab with how heavy it was, maybe something clean and orderly now that she knew how the Gym was now. Instead there was a prismatic array of photos all sliced and clipped and arranged in different ways, arching around them without touching the floor. Charlotte busied herself with a door nearby that was much easier to open, the arboreal background surrounding the image of a Nincada, and that made Alexa realise that every door was labelled like this. She could spy another door sporting a Swadloon, different sorts of leaves surrounding it. It also caught her breath how wondrous the display was.

(How long has this been here? How much has she not seen yet?)

How long she was standing there, she didn’t know. But a while later a voice hummed, “You know that’s not even the best part, right?” and it caught on Alexa’s heart a little.

Her tongue too.

(The booklet… It was a flyer for the Battle Chateau. How much did Viola do that Alexa didn’t know about? How much has she missed?)

Without even meaning to, she turned around to face Viola and stammered, “I… I need to go.”

“Go where?” the Gym Leader asked, raising an eyebrow. One of the Gym Trainers were sitting around, brooms and dusters left beside them as they talked to another walking by. The latter told the former, whose name was Anax, to get back to doing work. Anax tried to defend his position.

The Gym Leader’s attention was still on Alexa, though. So she swallowed up all her surprise and shoved it down, down, down, giving her a self-confident look. “To get something to drink? If I’m really going to be led around this labyrinth, I might as well stock myself up instead of waiting around with the clean-up crew.”

“Hey!” the guy next to Anax called out, shooting her a mock-glare. “Only one of us are cleaning, and it’s not this loser.” Anax exhaled sharply, closing his eyes as if it would help him, Lottie wisely avoiding the brewing resentment, taking a sip from her water bottle.

And for some reason Alexa found herself itching with the need to leave, to do something, to be active but within her own power. This place was power, wasn’t it? But not her kind. Viola shrugged, swinging about once more. “Eh, it’s your loss. We’re not opening the doors for you if you get locked out, you hear me?”

A sudden sigh of relief battered her chest, but Alexa held strong as she smirked and walked away. “And I thought it was you who wanted me around.” Blustery bluffs followed her wake as she walked into the walkway every Trainer would take, pushing through the doors any person chasing for a Badge would do. 

She wasn’t lying, if that was what was weighing on her mind, or on any mind. She needed a drink, desperately, and a Solar Beam can dramatically raise temperatures in a closed environment. Not a very efficent method of getting warm by any means, but still a way nonetheless. After some wrong turns she finally ended up at one of the cafes nearby, going through her usual order and sitting outside, enjoying it at a leisurely pace.

…There was still something weighing on her mind. Alexa frowned into her cup, as if it could relieve her of the burden, but there was no such luck. She was well and truly stuck within her feelings and everything that it brought upon her head.

Nothing that a walk can’t fix. Because she hasn’t been walking enough as is. She got up and disposed of the cup once she was finished with it, feeling something getting lost with the decision (once the sight of the shop shifted out of view, her fate was sealed).

The road she was walking down was a familiar one. With Pokémon that were either skittish or prone to fights in her team, there were many times where she found herself going to the Pokémon Centre. It’s one of the first places she would scout out— not only for healing purposes, but to get a good feel for a place. The state of the building and the matron within it was key to understanding civilization at a peek.

And of course, it’s also a good place to get many different perspectives from different people down on their own roads. Walking by she could already see Trainers walking about, waiting for their Pokémon to be treated or hanging about with friends and Holokit. She moved past them to take a walk around the perimeter, thinking about the most common place to find him.

Lo and behold, she was right. The sorry sight of Ash of Pallet Town sitting slumped on the opposite side of the field was something to come face to face to, and for a moment, Alexa wondered if it was her place to intrude.

(After all, it was through her recommendation that this had even happened.)

(That wasn’t her fault. That’s just how things are. That’s how kids grow. He’s just another kid, right?)

Everything inside her was fighting for action, and this was her chance, and she wanted to help, and it wasn’t her place to, and this was someone who she has known. Has known recently, in fact.

That sort of sadness? That’s not it.

She has the power to do something about it.

Alexa breathed out as she walked in, readying the game plan in her head. Head up, smile in place, teasing tone fitted. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing, moping about at a time like this?” Shiny brown eyes snap onto her face, the slightest gleam of an edge shimmering within. “Don’t tell me that’s the end of your journey!”

“It… isn’t.”

He knew what he wanted. 

“You know, my Noivern knows Gust as well.”

She was just giving him a little push.

“Really?”

A wink. A small pang of worry. “Want to find out?” she replied, standing at the edge of the field, one hand over the Pokéball, watching him do the same on the other side.

(It wouldn’t do to see him down like this.)

The crash course was now initiated. No regrets now.

Lumiose Press wasn’t answering her calls.

Gritting her teeth as she rang out until voicemail, Alexa clicked out. Again. That was the, what, seventh time today? And it’s been weeks! She couldn’t handle this sort of mental maniuplation. Did something get lost? Did something happen in the main building? Did they all get hit by Sleep Powder and are waiting for someone to blow the Blue Flute? She massaged her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. There’s no use worrying… until there was.

It’s ironic, because naturally having this much free time must be invigorating to any working person. She managed to memorise key locations of Santalune! Revisit old drinks and foods from home! Watched Gym battles in action…

Until she helped out with a Trainer. In which didn’t invalidate the results! Viola took it all in good stride, more interested in the kid with glasses who helped out with the Electro Ball manouver that Pikachu managed to pull off at the end, but she did have some choice words to say all the same. And so did Alexa, who was tired of feeling like an outsider mooching off the excitement generated by the mutual beatdown of trained Pokémon in an arena.

Safe to say things were a little frosty around the house. And outside still felt foreign, but not the kind of foreign that she could study and put in a paper. 

Helioptile startled as Alexa slumped over the tabletop suddenly, covering her face with her arms as the Holokit slid away from her grip. There was a small amount of silence before little Electric-Type feet tapped towards her location, pausing for a moment.

She could feel the way the stillness hung in the air, a fragile thread, so easily broken by the harshest of thoughts. Thoughts about action. About doing and not waiting. About doing her part. Alexa pressed her lips together before pushing herself off the surface of the table, resisting the urge to pick up the device again. She wasn’t going to let it rule her life.

Yeah. She could do it on her own. She straightened her back and stood up, walking over to the room where her items were. Already packed as it was, but it didn’t hurt to check. A questioning chirp filled the space but Alexa didn’t stop, making sure everything was ready. Camera. Book and pen. Charger. Backup batteries. Wallet. Belt bag. Panniers. Everything she needed to be on the road. 

Once she had set up everything, she walked back to the table where the Holokit was. Alexa found herself hesitating, wondering about the actions she was about to take, indeviceness reflected back at herself.

“I thought you were going to do it, soon, but I didn’t expect you to actually carry it out.”

Alexa turned around.

Viola held her head up, eyes already narrowed. Her hair was tossled and her clothing bore marks, as if she went through some strenuous battles prior to making it here. Her poker face was strong despite it all. “So that’s it.”

Not even a question. Not even the illusion of choice. But… she practiced for this. Had been waiting for it, in fact. “Duty calls. You know how it is.”

“I don’t.” Flat and to the point.

Easy enough to work with, so easy in fact that she’s walking around her and towards the exit. “I don’t expect you to. It’s my work, after all.”

“So that’s it.” Harsher, sharper, meaner. Alexa was taken aback by the bitterness packaged into every syllable, almost feeling the spit on her face. Disorientating, disarming, dizzingly so. “Is that what we’re going with? Is that what you're going with?”

It’s the surprise, Alexa rationalised as she found herself giving in. One foot by the door, almost out. So close. And yet, not there. “What do you want?”

“I don’t know, Lexi, why don’t you tell me? Because you come back only to just up and leave every single moment you can get! Just— You—” It’s the anger, it’s the sadness, it’s the shock of it being so close to home and yet so far away. Of needing action but unable to settle for what’s available. It’s incompatibility. “Why?” she finished, word falling flat, frangible, heavy and dense with emotion.

It’s the heartbreak, she found out as she listened to the bitterness break apart and seep into the floorboards, as miasma, the very air they’re breathing in. Alexa pressed her lips together, wondering if she should reply, finding her mouth open up to say something.

“I’ve— I can’t refuse it. This assignment.”

And yet she will dig the whole hole herself, lie and all.

Viola stopped, but it’s more akin to astonishment. Helioptile scampered between them, slipping out of the small gap that her Trainer’s boot had made with the door. Already outside. She… should be too.

And yet, she couldn’t help but add, “I went to the Gym battle. Just like you asked.”

A snort. She couldn’t see her sister from this angle, not properly, not truly, but she could imagine her crossing her arms as she retorted with, “And messed with it spectacularly. Seriously, it’s like you just can’t sit still. You never used to be like that.”

“I was.” She was, right? She wandered a lot. Imagined the world and its stories. Wanted to bring light to it all.

She was, right?

“If that’s what you tell yourself. Just go already. I’ve got enough Bug-Types to feed without you letting them all in.” A dismissal, through and through. Alexa thought about lightening the load, the consciousness, about saying something to leave them on good terms, but she couldn’t think of them on the spot.

A good journalist would know what to say. Would know what angle to approach. The right words to get the most story out of stone.

But that wasn’t stone beside her. And she wasn’t good.

“…”

So Alexa left.

Lumiose City was as tall as it ever was. So much activity, people, Pokémon; every turn revealing something different to the continued existence of humanity in conjunction with nature.

But Alexa didn’t have the luxury of enjoying that thought. Now, she was making a beeline to one of the large, squat buildings that housed Lumiose Press. A reliable newspaper house publishing only the most relevant and insightful pieces of information taken from Kalos to the world, instilled in succinct paragraphs and neatly pressed words.

She’s been here before, but that was at the end of her journey. Now, she’s ready for the next one and wouldn’t be taking no for an answer.

The wait in the line was nothing compared to the weeks of boredom. 

“Next up… Oh. It’s you.”

Chatting with Marcel at the desk was a walk in the park compared to the argument she had with her own sister. Alexa couldn’t help the pointed look at the landline sitting on the desk as she drily replied, “I’m sure you know why I’m here.” 

“Give me a moment…”

And having the deputy editor come down personally meant nothing to Alexa, who was a senior journalist in all but name.

Sasha looked her up and down before drawling, “Didn’t think much would phase you, but I guess we all have our weaknesses.” His clothes were as snazzy as ever, suit fit to walk with the elites with the smile to garner trust. So very good at everything. 

Which was fine. That’s exactly what Alexa needed to right this mess.

“A weakness you’d be very proud to exploit, I’m sure,” she sniped back, adjusting her pose to seem more receptive. Polite laughter echoed, but she still felt itchy inside, even with the calm exterior. Since when did small talk become torturous? “So, about the matter at hand…”

“Yes, yes, follow me.” The stairs were quick work to make, the pleasant-coloured walls at odds with the tension thrumming between them. She didn’t say anything though, holding in all thoughts until they were inside his office and sitting on the chair.

A desk sat between them, interrogation style. The clock was ticking, sleek and simplistic. Scoured of numbers, only lines. Approximations. Estimations.

“I would like to preface this by saying that we appreciate your enthusiasm and effort you’ve put into our fair company. Without you around, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today, and I mean this in a good way.”

It wasn’t an interrogation. 

“After all this time, it’s the least I could do. Current events are always occurring, and in this day and age it’s vital for the right light to be captured.”

It felt like it, though.

Sasha’s eyes were keen. His voice was cool. “The right light. You know, Lumiose City is known for its shining main attraction. Wouldn’t be so luminous without Prism Tower around.”

Alexa couldn’t help but feel… uncomfortable. She leaned back, crossed her legs, keeping up eye contact. “What are you getting at?” she clearly enunciated, sitting firm.

A raised eyebrow. “You came back to Kalos a little less than two weeks ago. I’m sure you’ve heard the news. Possibly even experienced it.” She didn’t reply. Her higher up tilted his head at the silent admission. “You’ve put me in an untenable position here, Alexa.”

“If it’s to do with my previous entries then—”

“Ash Ketchum fell off Prism Tower approximately two weeks ago.” 

The clock kept ticking.

Alexa felt her muscles freeze up, small smile still on her face. She wanted to verify. She— He was there, at the Gym, not even ten days ago! He was alive! Living, breathing…

…Different…

Sasha leaned forward, making up for some of the distance she put between them. “I’m sorry if you had to hear it this way. I couldn’t confirm if you knew the boy through your entries alone, but it was an easy enough connection to make from my end.” Looking off to the side, he added, “It was certainly a story to cover. Someone from another region rescuing a crazed Pokémon atop the symbol of Kalos itself? The Pokémon being involved with the Professor himself? And a Mega-Evolved Pokémon saving him after that fall? Even now, we don’t have all of the details.”

Her chin jerked upwards before her mind caught up with all of the words. “I’m not going to do that.” Of course she wouldn’t! How could anyone do such a thing?

“Of course, of course.” Was there a disappointed lilt to his voice? Before Alexa could analyse it he pushed himself back, sitting up straighter with brow furrowed; the veneer of being open snapping over his amicable expression once more. “We initially assumed that your eagerness to return to work so soon was due to the circumstances that had transpired near here, especially since it had strong ties to Pokémon-human relationships, but due to your compromised position we held you off.”

That’s… it? Foolish hope bubbled in her chest, but she staved it off herself. “And now you know I have no involvement or prior knowledge. You do realise I haven’t covered much in Kalos in a long while, haven’t you? I enjoy travelling around the world and bringing news here. Doing something else just wouldn’t be me.” She tried to laugh it off, peel away that pressure in her chest, but Sasha didn’t reciprocate.

No, he just continued to give her that cordial tone. “I’m sure you’re right about your proclivities, but the fact remains that Kalos has just as much going on within its own borders. And considering the dangerous events plaguing of other regions, it wouldn’t do to constantly bombard our readers with negative news.” His fingers tapped on the table, matching the tune of the clock. “Especially when we start to experience unrest ourselves.”

Alexa came here to get some work done, but now she was finding herself wanting to back away or maybe just push back. 

She shouldn’t (she wanted to keep her position).

She shouldn’t (leaving was the right thing to do).

“What are you talking about?” she asked instead.

The tapping stopped. His expression turned brittle. “Incidents such as Prism Tower don’t just happen out of nowhere,” he tried to say, but before the last syllable came out of his mouth Alexa shot up to her feet.

“No,” she replied instead. “Try again.”

“You’ve been around for years, Alexa, you know what I mean.” Brushing his dark hair away from his face, Sasha exhaled sharply. “Take a step back and realise that what I’m looking at is the bigger picture here.”

“Our job is to provide accurate information around the world.”

“Even bigger than that.”

“Just pick out a region if it’s that hard.”

“Why don’t you want to cover here?” he asked, and she hesitated for a moment. Long enough for him to continue with, “I find it very telling that you’re unwilling to work with complexities closer to home.”

You’re doing the right thing, she told herself. “I’m compromising myself if I engage in a story that I have a known connection to,” she said outloud, trying to keep a level tone, wrestling back the instinct to physically step away.

It still didn’t stop her from jolting to attention as he snapped, “It’s not about the past anymore! It’s about Kalos’s future!”

Alexa paused, then. Her heart was beating, it’s true, and it’s louder than it’s ever been. And she didn’t know what was the right thing to do, even though she kept telling herself elsewise, as if it could mitigate or perhaps become true with every iteration. A wish. Something unable to be touched or examined, ephemeral and unreal.

Sasha paused to read her face, to regain his breath, shaking out his head before adding, “We’re losing readers here. They don’t want to hear about something that has nothing to do with them. They want peace, from here, at their door. They want reassurance. Pokémon are becoming more dangerous—”

“That’s not true.” Helioptile was in his ball, all curled up and away from the argument, but his presence alone gave her strength. Same with Gogoat. Same with Noivern. The world was the same, give or take. That much she knew. “You’re blowing things out of proportion.”

“And you’re grossly misunderstanding the point.” The two of them at a standstill, unable to make any headway. Unable to agree. Alexa couldn’t imagine being at such a crossroad at the one place she trusted, poured time into, of her own accord. Couldn’t imagine what changed.

And yet, there was that steely look in Sasha’s eyes that weren’t there before. More softly, he said, “We’re reexamining the positions within the corporation in wake of the issues the region’s been facing. I didn’t want it to come down to this—”

“You’re kidding me—”

“Alexa.” The harsh cadence in his voice got her to stop. “We can’t handle instability within our own four walls if we are to cover the region itself. If you can’t get in line, it’s best for you to find work elsewhere.”

She wanted to snarl, to spit and yell, to stomp and leave. Alexa didn’t do any of that. She knew her place and what was happening. She knew of the trap and of the expectation. She knew the end of the rope and the feel of its frayed ends. His and her own.

All she could do was breathe in and out, was stay standing, was say, “That’s it?”

(So that’s it?)

“I’ve said my piece.” Sasha looked down. He wouldn’t look up for the remainder of her stay. She wouldn’t get to see those brown eyes, warm as burnt honey, as she used to. “I’ve set out the terms. It’s your choice to agree or disagree with them.”

Alexa felt her hands start to hold a slight tremble. She bunched it into a fist before relaxing it, biting her lip before releasing. 

The door opened and closed, softly.

The sky was blue. The same sky all over the globe.

There was video evidence of that fateful day at Prism Tower. Thirty thousand views. Comments too.

Alexa found herself caught up in every single millisecond, going back, analysing the details. The way that Ash still had a Froakie, even back then. The way the Garchomp frequently used Hyper Beam, despite the toll on his body. The way a strange looking Blaziken jumped in right as Ash fell after Pikachu, reaching towards another reaching towards an accident, grasping at bodies before touching the ground with an impact.

Alive and well and safe. And yet there were people complaining, yelling, pushing forward, as if it were them going through it.

Well, Alexa thought wryly to herself, they weren’t half wrong— if they lived in or walked by Vernal Avenue at that point in time. Shaking her head as she leaned over her laptop, sitting by a park bench, she rewinded back to the moment where the camera caught a glimpse of the Blaziken standing by a man up at some rooftop as Helioptile yawned beside her.

Through her liminal research, she managed to find out that Blaziken Mask was a relatively new addition to the gang of heroes running about in the city. Which was formally a duo working with Eeveelutions to mixed results. What was more interesting was the Blaziken he was seen with— a Pokémon who has achieved Mega Evolution. A phenomena that the Pokémon Professor of this very city was researching…

An interesting lead, but not one she was focused on. Despite having to deal with total upheaval, Alexa wasn’t totally unmoored as of yet. All of a sudden Kalos felt unfamiliar, strange, distant, and on the first day of her arrival a hero appears to save a plucky Trainer trying to do the right thing. It has to be connected. There has to be a point of no return, and a way to return from it. If there’s one thing her occupation… her previous occupation has taught her, it was reading between the lines.

And finding the truth. And informing the people in a fair and balanced manner.

Alexa felt seething rise within her and swallowed down its acrid taste, scrolling through social media. Not the most reliable place to be on, but with such an elusive but well-known figure it was best to get a scope of the community surrounding him.

She started to type up ‘Blaziken’. Immediately, results showed a trending tag within Kalos (which she had to adjust to), most pictures having Prism Tower within its sights. Flashes of red and gold, mostly, some with cosplays or their own Pokémon partner, but others?

Unmistakenably the one she was looking for. And some of them posted recently. A few hours ago, in fact.

Alexa narrowed her eyes, closing down her laptop and looking around. The recent pictures were linked to a plaza, though which one of the six it was wasn’t clear. Magenta Plaza was wide and spacious, with quietude to soothe the most frayed of nerves. A bush rustled nearby. She stiffened before turning around, slowly, ready for her suspicions to be proven in a prompt manner.

(So soon, too! Was this it?)

The bush rustled a little more and she found herself getting impatient. Slipping the laptop to her seat Alexa stood up, slowly creeping closer. It couldn’t be that easy, right? The bush was a bit far, but certainly not that small. At least for an adult, anyway.

Her ears caught the sound of stampeding feet and the ex-reporter jumped away, just in time to avoid a herd of people running by. Strange. She wouldn’t have imagined that many people would be around here, and wearing masks too! Although taking a glance at the numbered stickers they were wearing, it could make sense. What would she know about racing events? Or about the themes they would uphold…

She shook her head, holding in a breath before realising it. She’s going crazy. Alexa, professional journalist only two hours ago, was losing her marbles. Over what? She doesn’t know! Nobody does! Just misaligned viewpoints and faulty reasoning!

“Compromised,” she muttered as she stalked back to her seat, opening up the laptop and finding her face flashed with her only lead. Her only opportunity. Sasha thought that people wanted peace and stability? Well, knowing about the hero around the city would surely help with that. Could even help the hero too!

(And herself as well. So she can understand at least one thing. So that she can see the full puzzle for once, no missing pieces to spare.)

Alexa pulled out Gogoat’s Pokéball, ready to put away the laptop, but another pop sounded and she came face to face with Noivern.

Angry, feisty, seething Noivern. His eyes caught onto the laptop in her hands, and she looked down at it too. Her breath caught.

“Don’t you dare,” she called out, voice hitching in desperation. Noivern screeched before snaking out his tail to knock her off balance, using his feet to snatch the device from her flailing hands while watching her fall with a gleeful expression.

Helioptile didn't so much blink an eye as he watched the dragon flap upwards, blasting the radius with the wind he kicked up.

Alexa didn’t stay stunned for long. Quickly pushing herself up to her feet she summoned Gogoat, who took one glance at the skies and let out a defensive snort. She shot him a look as she climbed on his back, gripping his horns with strength she never possessed before. “After him!” she yelled as she leaned forward, Gogoat letting Helioptile settle atop his head before kicking it into full gallop.

It was a wild rush. Noivern was fast, but it was clear he was taunting her with how languidly slow he was doing so, never within reach. While having the care to at least stay within eyesight he didn’t extend that foresight to the people walking by— in an instant papers were flung about, shopping bags were upheaved, and a young couple’s picnic mercilessly devoured. Alexa didn’t have time to stop and apologize, not with her laptop precariously in the grip of her errant Pokémon, but the eating spree had given her an idea. “Helioptile, check if there’s any Spelon Berries in my pockets!”

Helioptile nodded as he precariously wiggled around her, trying to access the zip as Alexa led Gogoat on. Her grip hasn’t loosened, even with the calming emotions the Mount Pokémon was trying to send to her through the bond, her mind deadset on retrieving the device. It was imperative that it wasn’t damaged, especially with job insecurity striking her at long last.

The path they took was a weaving one, exiting out of the Plaza to then run adjacent to the Saison Canal. Noivern took full advantage of the fact that they could not cross it easily, gliding across the water with his claws ever so close to the surface. Even with Alexa’s yelling being dimmed by the chaos around them it seemed that Noivern heard her, knowing her reaction if harm befell the laptop in such a way as he made a hoarse grunt in response, shooting up once more into the wide skies above.

“We can’t let him get away,” she found herself muttering as she felt Gogoat angle himself towards a shortcut, the tight space of the alleyway causing wind to whistle around them before they rushed through the other side, quickly adjusting their course to not barrel into the tables set up by a nearby cafe. Even though her hands were aching, Alexa’s eyes were on the horizon and the setting sun. 

Time was ticking. 

They couldn’t keep this up forever.

(She should use his Pokéball to call him back, but that would risk the laptop.)

(She should use Helioptile to call down Thunder, or Gogoat with Rock Slide, but that would risk the laptop and Noivern.)

Alexa could feel Gogoat’s strength waning with the fall of night. The idea of using Synthesis was on her tongue, such an easy thing to call out, so easy she could tell that Gogoat had felt it. 

But he didn’t react. She didn’t say it. He kept plodding on, losing speed and daylight, and Noivern was now a distant speck in the night.

Alexa knew she couldn’t keep up with him now. Sighing, she retracted her hands from Gogoat’s horns and rested her head between the gap; with her energy spent, the full brunt of the day’s events had finally hit her, and it hit her hard.

(That… really happened, didn’t it?)

The Mount Pokémon continued to move forward, albeit giving a whinny to garner a reaction from the Trainer. She pressed her lips, wondering what to say. “I don’t suppose you know what got into him, do you?”

Gogoat shook his head, hooves clacking on the pavement, past shops full of luxury and style. She scratched the gap between his horns and he gave a low bleat, which brought a small smile on her face. Helioptile popped his head out of the left pannier, shaking out his head while holding a bag full of the horned Berries, and Alexa shook her head before letting the Electric-Type climb over to settle in his usual place on her back. Looking up, she could see stars starting to blink into existence, or into view.

Noivern will come back on his own terms. She’ll deal with him then. For now, it was best if they all filled up their stomachs, which were awakened with the smell of food wafting around them. She directed Gogoat to a Pokémon-friendly restaurant, sitting outside as she ate some warm food. Her Holokit was burning a hole in her pocket, but she ignored it. One step at a time.

One sip and one bite. She was lucky enough to have leftover chow from her stop in Kanto, which was rich and high in nutrients that all Pokémon seemed to love. She held in a snort at the idea of luring in Noivern with it. Maybe he just wanted some more of those pellets?

It was an amusing thought to have as she sipped on tea. Not as good as coffee, in her opinion, but it certainly revitalised her spirit some. Alexa leaned back after finishing the last bite of her crouton, feeling plump and satisfied, irritation somewhat quelled. She found herself thinking about what was next, what could she do, what was on her horizon.

She… still wanted to investigate. Still wanted to be involved. Still wanted to understand. A few weeks in Kalos has left her confused beyond belief, and she didn’t want to engage with that feeling, would rather feel like that in a place that wasn’t supposed to be home. It was her job to stay informed in wherever region she ended up in. Afterwards… What was left?

Helioptile caught her expression and chirped, nuzzling her boots before looking up at her longingly. Alexa gave in and put him on the table, watching with faint amusement his meandering walk around the table and taking an experimental lick of her finished bowl of tartiflette. “You’ve got to stop doing that,” she huffed, no true exasperation in her voice. Helioptile shook out his tassels into frills, blinking them at her before squeaking once more.

…Too insightful. She let him go, catching on to Gogoat’s deadpan expression and turning away. She’s got to get a hotel room, but without her laptop she’ll have to play it by ear. Standing up she felt Helioptile jump onto the back of her pack, smiling softly at that familiar action before looking over at Gogoat. “I’m guessing you’d rather stay out, huh?”

Gogoat let out a belligerent grunt, nudging her hand onto her horn before stamping forward, as if knowing exactly where she wanted to go.

Alexa let him guide her, let him speak, let him move. She was tired. 

This was new.

…She was still tired, so it was okay. And after a few conversations with some wandering Gogoat (a part of the shuttle system in Lumiose), they found themselves in front of a homely storefront. Alexa sighed as she knocked on the door, expecting a refusal, but the woman there was so kind and friendly and willing to understand. Willing to let her in. Willing to hear her out.

She was about to step into the building when she heard a blood-curdling shriek. Alexa knew it wasn’t worth it, wasn’t worth it at all, not without her laptop and all the information in it, but she still looked back.

Still saw the blinding flash of cameras.

Still saw Prism Tower, starting its usal lighting up routine.

Still saw Noivern caught in that bright light, screeching in pain as people came to watch.

As if in a trance she started to follow the light, despite Gogoat trying to push her back. It was the woman’s voice— Daphne, wasn’t it?— breaking through the instinct as she murmured, “Oh, dear, how did that happen, I wonder?”

“It’s my—” Alexa swallowed her words as she realised what she was about to admit. How funny— the old reporter becoming the latest report. The irony was as thick as syrup, and it was just as hard to choke down without warning. And yet…

That was her Pokémon, wasn’t it? Her responsibility. Or rather, one of her own, in every version of the word.

She shook her head and tapped Gogoat’s horns. The Mount Pokémon whinnied in an approximation of a sigh before letting her on, Helioptile leaning forward as Alexa kicked into a canter. 

Couldn’t risk going too fast, not at night and not with this many bystanders. But with Helioptile shimmying his way to the front and lighting up his frills, alongside Gogoat deftly weaving past obstacles, they were making good pace in a good direction. In the distance there was a flash of red, and maybe if Alexa was able to set aside even a crumb of focus, she could have seen it for what it was.

But ever since she caught sight of the problem transpiring in real time, recognising her Noivern’s cries, she’s given it up. Completely and utterly.

(She wouldn’t wish that fate on anyone.)

(At least it’s happening to her.)

A whisper set off Helioptile, who jumped off Gogoat and quickly skirted around the crowd as he indiscriminately Electrify-ed devices and rendered them overcharged and nonfunctional. Their shock made it easier for Alexa to rush past them, cleaving a way to get as close to Noivern as possible, steadily moving closer to him. She could now see some drones nearby, trying to take him down by clamping onto his wings, which he furiously flapped in order to keep them away as well as stay afloat.

Her heart ached, then, a burst of emotion that she couldn’t bury quickly enough. Gogoat glanced back at her briefly before galloping forward, kicking out hooves to push back the onlookers even further, and it was all Alexa could do to formulate a plan as she reached back for the Pokeball.

“I’m sorry about this,” she muttered underneath her breath as she aimed it upwards, knowing of the cost, seeing the silver flash between hooked claws. The problem she was trying to avoid being eclipsed by an even worse issue meant that she had to sacrifice something, and if it were between a well-loved object and a well-loved partner, then, it was obvious.

Alexa pressed her thumb over the recall button, right as a burst of flame pierced the skies and one of the drones nearby.

Right on cue, a Blaziken jumped into the scene, its usual sunny-yellow colouring darkened into coal-black, head feathers pushed up with fire streaming out of its arms. With one well-aimed kick it stomped the fallen drone into a crisp, glaring upwards before shooting off another Flamethrower.

Despite everything Alexa found herself running forward and pushing others aside on her own two feet, desperately yelling out, “No, don’t hit Noivern!” 

(It was terrifying and humbling and strange, to be in the midst of a story in play, to be a clashing decision in the middle of conflict, to watch another make an action against your own judgement. She could only hope. She could only speak.)

She could only watch as that burst of flame narrowly missed Noivern and instead went wide, just as the draconic Pokémon pointed his ears forward and blasted the other drone with Boomburst. It was a blinding, deafening racket, and even she had to turn her sight away from the ensuing explosion.

Yet as soon as she could, she made progress through the crowd, holding a hand out to cover her eyes until she could see again. “Noivern!” she called out once he was within sight, not minding the attention she drew, not minding the scowl that Mega Blaziken sent out. Her Pokémon looked down at her, gaze manic, but in a way that signalled that he was still in there. 

Alexa could’ve asked for the laptop back. Could’ve reached for it, reached for him, even though she couldn’t make the distance. The Pokéball was still in her grip. She could’ve called him back, too. So many choices. All of it, her own.

A small laugh bubbled inside of her, and she held a hand out to stifle it. Even so that strange movement got Noivern to cock his head, trilling in confusion as he flapped lower. Alexa waved out a hand, gasping out, “No! I’m… I’m fine, I’m just trying to understand how you got mixed up in all of that. And how you…” She gave a glance towards Blaziken, who was— Yep, gone. She sighed. Of course it would be like that.

With no electronics, impending doom or hero in sight, the crowd had started to trickle away, which was a relief but also a sort of denouement, at least in her eyes anyways. Gogoat clopped towards them, letting out a disappointed grunt (to whom, it wasn’t clear) as Helioptile clambered back to his favourite spot, and Alexa endured it.

If anyone had a right to disparage her, it would definitely be her Pokémon, after all. She nudged her head to the side as she glanced up at Noivern. “C’mon, I know you’re hungry. We’ve already eaten just before, but there’s enough for you, if you’re willing.”

Noivern tossed his head up, growling through his nose. He so clearly wanted to have the higher ground, but his stomach disagreed, making it known just as it always did. Alexa shook her head as she looked for the Spelon Berries… which were definitely on the left side, but with an impatient snort from Gogoat she switched sides and finally found the packet. Opening it up she threw out one of the Berries, watching as Noivern snapped it up with one bite.

And just like that, she was leading him back, Berry by Berry, to where Daphne once were. To Alexa’s relief the woman accepted them, size and all, and after giving them all one last meal she recalled all but Helioptile back to their Pokéballs.

(Not without patting Gogoat, letting him know of her relief and peace. Not without hugging Noivern, and getting a slightly dented but otherwise working laptop in exchange, and still hugging him anyways.)

Now, with all of the action winding down, Alexa sat on the small table beside the balcony, looking across Lumiose and its many lights. It’s been crazy. She’s been crazy, lately, too. She started off happy from some work well done, and has now had her own close encounter with a pained Dragon-Type in the vicinity of a nearby tower.

It goes without saying that she didn’t exactly know what to do with herself now that she had cut ties with Lumiose Press. Could she strike out on her own? Possibly, but what could keep her afloat at a time like this? A time where people and Pokémon were fearful of each other, were staying away from others that they didn’t know, who were distrustful of what comes outside of their own experience.

On the flipside, she had gone through a lot in such a short amount of time, and that was here. On home soil. No need for (far) travel required. And if Kalos was going through its own sort of cultural shift… wouldn’t it be prudent to—

“Hey there.”

Without meaning to, Alexa jumped back and kicked the table forward, hitting the intruder and gaining a groan in response. Breathing heavily she peered forward, seeing… Blaziken Mask?

“Yep… That’s me…” 

Did she say that outloud? Mortified over the sequence of events, she hurried over at the other side and extended a hand out towards him. “Sorry, so sorry, I was just thinking when you scared me.” Her expectations of finding slash catching him were dashed, the reality being so much more mundane, and that seemed to be on track with her life so far.

So much so that Alexa didn’t spring her pre-made questions. Her honest ones too.

All she did was wait.

The hero gave her a tight smile as he took her hand, gloves rough and thick. Homemade or adjusted? How so? She stared at it as he dusted himself off, still somewhat limping as he leaned against the railings. “Uh, I was just on a patrol when I saw you sitting out. Probably shouldn’t have snuck up on you, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay after your Noivern did… that.”

“That,” Alexa echoed, standing by her chair but unable to sit down. How much has he seen? What has he done? Realising that he wasn’t leaving, she managed to blurt out, “So you were there. And that Blaziken, it’s yours, right?”

“She,” he corrected. An admission.

She took it, leaning closer. It was easy to— easy to do so now. After being in the centre of attention. After that nerve-wracking chase. After having fallout after fallout. An ear and mouth was all she needed, and all he provided. “Do you tend to stick near Prism Tower? How do you plan your patrols? What is your motive?”

The hero chuckled, but it was strained. “I check around everywhere? Wouldn’t expect everything to happen near Centrico Plaza. And my motives? …Isn’t it enough to do the right thing? What did you expect?”

Alexa found herself hesitating, but only for a second. Before, she would go with anything that would help her cause. She would expect some history, some forthrightness, some clarity. She would expect strong Pokémon and technology by his side. She would expect a battalion.

In reality?

“Not sure.” A shrug as she looked out at the sky. The same sky over the globe, but in a different light. “I haven’t seen a real-life hero before. Didn’t think they would fit in the realm of reality.”

Blaziken Mask relaxed, if only slightly. “Haven’t been in Lumiose lately? There’s two of them here before I came to the scene. Way before me, too.”

She gave him a wry grin. “Was it their blinding reviews that got you in the business?”

He laughed. “I wish! If that were enough, we’d all be heroes, now, wouldn’t we?”

“I don’t think it’s that easy.” At his sidewards glance, she elaborated, “Humans can be selfless, but it takes a lot to change their habits. I’m one such person. To be a hero, it takes equipment, mindset, support, time, security, money, and privilege to an extent. Or am I wrong?”

“A bit,” he brazenly replied.

Alexa shot him a glare. “A bit?!” she repeated, tone indignant. Was Blaziken Mask a bougie?

The hero shrugged his shoulders, as down to earth as an action could be. “Would you believe that I was the same as you are now? Didn’t think I could do anything, kept watching bad stuff happen. Kept feeling helpless. Kept on my usual habits. But you know what habits are?” He jabbed a thumb to his chest before twirling the pointer outwards in the cold air. “Something we believe in repeated over time. So just as we build them up, we can also build them down. Make new ones. Rearrange them.”

“Hmm.” She took the moment to breathe out, gathering her thoughts. Looking at his garb more closely, she noticed how most of it was modelled after the alternate form his Blaziken had. “You can achieve Mega Evolution with Blaziken, correct?”

Blaziken Mask cleared his throat, caught off guard by the line of questioning. “Yes?”

“What’s with the questioning tone, hmm?”

“It’s not a question,” he defended, before deflating a little. Fiddling with his cloak and its buttons, he murmured, “I mean, who knows about Mega Evolution anyways?”

“The Professor?”

A short chuckle. “Believe it or not, he doesn’t know that much. Been chasing me down whenever he can. I’m lucky that Blaziken hasn’t caught wind of that yet.”

Alexa thought to herself about that revelation. It would make sense, considering how recent information seemed to be on the web. In her research prior to the Noivern chase, she caught sight of a place with history, known to have documented information about the phenomena at large. “How would you describe it, then?”

He gave her a glance, still relenting regardless. “It’s… warm. A connection. We feel each other, and we help each other. She uses the power and I hold it for her. It’s… trust,” he finished up, giving her another helpless shrug.

She still nodded, slotting the words into her mind. “You care a lot, don’t you?” she found herself replying to such a confession, standing next to him. 

The hero, to his credit, didn’t flinch at the closeness. Didn’t lean into it either. A puff of condensed air whittled past his mask, the only sign before he spoke. “You can say that.” Short and trite. She rolled her eyes at that. Her questioning skills were getting sloppy, but that might just be the result of the long day she’s had.

A different angle. “Do you ever talk to the people you save like this?”

“Most of them wouldn’t really want to be near me in the first place. You know how Lumoisians are… Or do you?”

“What kind of question is that?!”

Normally, she would’ve hung onto the golden opportunity that was having Blaziken Mask next to her, willing to talk, willing to be open in such a way. This could’ve been her opportunity. It still was.

“So what made you come to me?”

“You looked… tired.”

“...Thanks. It’s just, been a lot lately. Needed to let go of some old habits.”

But tomorrow was near, and its path was too. A path towards a different sort of tower, one closer to the seaside rather than the heart. 

“It’s not easy, but it is rewarding. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”

“I can only hope. Although having that come from you just means that I’ve just got a blessing from the hero itself. I doubt much can stand in my way after that.”

A nervous chuckle. “I’m not that powerful,” he said, covering his mouth with a curled up hand as he leaned forward.

Looking at him, framed by the moon, packed with muscle and who knows what, red cape slightly wavering with the wind, it was laughable to think he was anything but. He doesn’t know. He should know about how easy it was for her to know that.

“I used to be a reporter. Today, I lost my job. They… wanted me to cross my principles. It was hard to let go.”

He looked a little surprised, but then softened at the last few words. Instead of running, of leaving, of even questioning back, he replied, “That’s your habit.”

“Hmm.” It made Alexa reflect on her argument with Viola. Always leaving, and for what? People who would easily throw her away in turn? People… much more similar to her in terms of work ethic?

…Did she ever know them in the first place? An ocean away was a lot of space, and she only heard what they would transmit. Would see what they typed. Not day to day, but on planned, scheduled outings. “I… may have been foolish, myself, though. I should’ve known.” She barked out a short laugh. “It’s funny, isn’t it? How much things change when you turn away.”

“I think if every reporter was like you, the world would be in a better place.”

She held in a snort at that. “Better as in there are no more reporters?”

“Better as in they stick to their principles. Don’t—” And that’s where he waved a hand around aimlessly— “Chase down Pokémon or people for the latest scoop. Change the story or say mean things.” His hand flopped down, a string cut. “Make things up for entertainment purposes.”

Sharp eyes, keener heart. “Did they insult you?”

His checks pushed upwards, just slightly. “Not… exactly.” 

Ah. The other heroes. Alexa hummed in response. A hurt hero and a rejected reporter. What a sight. What a day. C’est la vie. “Thanks for the backhanded compliment, Monsieur Mask. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind on my wide and vast journey.”

He shot a glare at her, which was very similar to the one his Blaziken gave. “Journey,” he warily repeated, interest sounded pique. “So you’re…”

A good hook, if anything else. “Of course! A better world starts with a good plan, and you’ve given me a good lead to start with. You should probably be heading off yourself to dispel your own unique brand of good deeds, that way, we’re both making progress.”

“You’re as bossy as any reporter,” he muttered underneath his breath, but there was a smile as he perched himself on the railings, the nightly breeze preemptively holding up his cape. As he looked back, she could see overwhelming humanity behind the yellow-tinted visor serving for eyes, just as bright as any skylight. It was that momentary hesitation that caught off guard as he said, “...Since you know so much about people, what do you suppose will help out?”

Alexa found herself smiling. “I’m no expert, but… organising events is nice. Strengthening people by showing them that they’re not alone, that together is stronger. I think if you just continue being yourself, and talk to people, and teach them whenever you can, they’ll surprise you.”

“In a good way or in a bad way?”

She gave him a wink. “In a people-y way. Kind of like you.”

Blaziken Mask nodded. “And you.” Before she could deny that, he jumped off, the distant sound of his voice trailing in the distance, “Thanks a lot for the advice, I’ll keep it in mind!”

It was so extra, and yet, something she could understand. She waved at him and he paused, and that part made no sense, so she called out, “I’m still coming back to interview you some day!”

(It was supposed to be a farewell. A return to form.)

Blaziken Mask glanced back, calling back, “I wouldn’t expect anything else from a reporter!”

“I’m—” ‘Not one’, hung on her tongue, but she discarded it. She still has the skills, the equipment, the ideas. “Going to find and surprise you next time, so be prepared!”

He gave her a thumbs up before turning it down, earning her gasp as he then ran away. Rude. So undeniably rude. 

And yet, a challenge. One waiting for her at the end of it all.

(Instead, it came out like a promise of change.)

Turning away after that long talk, Alexa longly looked at her bed, conflicting emotions and too much energy thrumming inside of her. No matter what, though, she’ll have to rest up for the day ahead. The journey ahead. The story she will make, all by herself.

Well, not by herself. Her Pokémon will be there, naturally. And as she’s seen, there is at least one person willing to listen. So maybe not all is lost.

(A promise that said, Do good.)

Maybe, this is the start of a better future.

(The reply being, And you’ll do the same.)

The morning after was a storm in motion. Alexa, fueled by coffee and the long night, was hurriedly checking through her tabs while stuffing another piece of toast in her mouth, tapping her foot on the ground to get Helioptile to stop hopping around Gogoat and Noivern. Daphne was an absolute miracle worker with how she dealt with the extra bodies, her radio still playing music in the background as her Totodile helped with cleaning the dishes.

After swallowing her last bite, the reporter stood up and slammed down the face of the laptop, getting her Pokémon to still as her eyes sparkled. “Yes, that’s exactly where we’re going!” She pumped her hand up in the air in triumph, turning to face the bemused expressions of everyone else. “Sorry, but we need to get going now if we’re going to make good time.”

“No worries, hun,” Daphne replied as Totodile fixed up the dishes on the drying rack. “I’m just glad that someone got to enjoy my hospitality.”

“We’ve more than enjoyed it,” Alexa answered in earnest as she stuffed the device down one of the panniers, making sure that everything was set on either end before giving Gogoat a scratch behind the ears. “Best sleep I’ve had in ages.”

“Even with the hero visiting?”

Her face warmed at the tone of voice the elder lady used, her posture immediantly straightening up. “N-no!” she stammered, before shaking her head. She was quite comfortable with thinking of the hero as someone to anaylse rather than… something else. “He helped me reassess my direction and I helped him out a little in return. There was nothing more than that, I assure you.”

Daphne didn’t turn around, but that mischievous hutch of her shoulders didn’t wane. “If that’s what you say. I won’t turn down free advertisement, in any case.” Setting down the last dish, she pulled off her gloves and gave Alexa a firm look. “I will say this, though: don’t be a stranger. No matter what direction you take, I’m always open to a friendly face and a good tale. And a friendly Gogoat, of course.”

“Of course you’d like Gogoat.” It was to no surprise that Daphne worked in the Gogoat Shuttle business, the daylight making it easier to see the red banner inside and outside the building with a gate nearby for the herd to stay when not in action. Said woman just gave Alexa’s Gogoat a nuzzle as he walked by, cooing as he turned away staunchly from the display before giving them a wave. With an amused smile Alexa waved back, opening the door and letting her Pokémon rush out before her.

Despite everything she still found herself rushing out after them, pulling up into the lead as the morning sun crested above them. “Don’t push!” she had to yell out as she beheld the bickering between Gogoat and Noivern staying close, and an exasperated growl answered her as Noivern decided to keep distance the only way he knew how.

It would be easy to call him back. But Alexa knew how much the Sound Wave Pokémon liked to soar, and how terrifying last night was, and how this could be a chance to grow. To understand. And to start anew.

Besides, he did make a pretty good shade. Looking up at him, the self-appointed reporter nodded, and his tail flicked in recognition of the action. Gogoat grunted as he nudged her, and without much else for it, Alexa mounted him and made for the Route 13 gate, Helioptile staying where he always liked to stay beside her.

(A new wind is blowing.)

It will be a while until they will return to Lumiose. A while until she can go back to Santalune, too, although perhaps not as long. Lots of work in the future, and innovation needed to make it out as she was.

Alexa was as ready as she’ll ever be; to understand Kalos and to understand the people and Pokémon within it. To outline the love and the pain and the trust and the problems they face. And, of course, to show the truth and ideals within such a beautiful region.

Her region.

It’s time to face the past before and the future ahead, one foot (or hoove, or wingbeat) in front of the other.

This is the start of something beautiful; she could just feel it.